Testimonials

"A very special thanks. I don't know what I would have done without you. You were always there when I needed you. You helped to make the worst experience of my life so much easier to live with.

- Nancy F.

“Richard Spencer was there for us from the day after my accident, representing me and my wife, and there throughout the whole lawsuit until it was settled.

- Felix D.

A little over year ago I found myself in need of legal counsel. It's stressful enough when you are in an accident that stops your life as you know it.

- Marie K.

My son and I were involved in a major car accident and my son was seriously injured. I met Richard and he got my son the maximum we could get.

- Eran F.

I've used Mr. Spencer's services a couple of times now and could not be happier with the level of service, his professionalism, and the manner.

- Gabriel S.

Richard is my GO TO ATTORNEY, I know he will take care of my legalities and I trust Richard in every aspect of handling my law case.

- Sandra B.

Beware of the hidden dangers of chest trauma after car accidents

On behalf of Spencer & Associates posted in car accidents on Wednesday, November 8, 2017.

Car accidents don't have to look bad to be bad. Sometimes people are seriously injured in a car accident and won't register exactly how bad off they really are until hours or days later.

Blunt-force chest trauma, for example, can be one of those types of injuries. If the trauma isn't actively hindering your breathing, you may not even realize that you're seriously hurt. You may even dismiss increasing soreness, stiffness and pain when moving as just part of the healing process.

How serious is chest trauma after a car accident? It depends.

Did you have your seat belt on? Did you strike the dashboard with your chest? Did the airbag deploy with full force into your chest? Were you suddenly jolted into place by a seat belt? All of these factors can make a difference, so there's no easy answer.

While you're no doubt glad that you didn't end up going through the windshield of the car, it's important that you don't dismiss chest pain after a car accident, especially if it seems to worsen:

One-third of people who experience chest trauma need to be admitted to the hospital.

Blunt-force injuries in the thoracic area of the chest account for as many as one-fourth of all deaths after a traumatic injury.

Overall, chest trauma in general is considered a "contributor" in half of other post-trauma deaths.

Some of the injuries commonly associated with blunt-force chest trauma include broken ribs, a fractured breastplate, esophageal ruptures, cardiac chamber ruptures of the heart and aortic ruptures -- just to name a few.

Again, the lesson to bear in mind is that early recognition of the damage and early treatment is what's necessary to keep the situation from becoming dire.

If you have even the slightest chest pain following a car accident, allow yourself to be transported by ambulance to the hospital and X-rayed for any obvious problems. If nothing is found, you can generally relax -- unless the pain worsens or you develop problems breathing -- in which case, head back to the emergency room and let the doctors know you've recently been in an accident that involved chest trauma.

If you are injured in a car accident due to someone else's negligence, an attorney can help. Our firm has attorneys who are experienced with car accident claims and can provide the advice you need. .

The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.

Verdicts & Settlements

Duenas v. State of California : Dangerous roadway accident in Inyo County: this case involved a single vehicle that rolled over in a construction zone. The case went before a jury and ultimately resolved for $10,000,000.

Rodriguez v. Mitchell : Automobile accident on Interstate 5 in Newhall: this case involved a rear-end accident on Interstate 5. The case settled for $1,436,950, which represented all the insurance coverage that was available.